Process of and apparatus for generating water-gas



B. VAN STEENBERGH; i l PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR GENBRATING WATER GAS.A

No. 248,070. l v Ptehtedot. 1151881.

(No Model.)

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N. PETERSA Phomumagmplm. washingmn. l.) C4

=UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUEHAUs van sTEENBEEeH, oEeosHEN, NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING WATER-GAS.

SPECIFICATION`forming part of Letters Patent ,No, 248,070,da.ted October 11, 1881. Applicationiled February 24, V1881. (No model.)

To all twhom it may concern:

Beit known that I, BUEHAUs VAN STEEN- BERGH, of the town of Goshen, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Process of and Apparatus for Generating Water- Gas, of whichthe following is a specification.

In the water-gas 'generators now in use, in which the superheated. steam and oleaginous matter are introduced into the incandescent fuel at all times in the same portions of said fuel,and in which a double-sealed hopper and ashpit are used, the fuel, although gaining briskness at theupper portion or place at which the Agas is discharged, loses its life and del composing property at the place where the steam is introduced very rapidly, so that generation of gas by the decomposition of steam soon becomes inactive, and almost entirely ceases before any new supply of fuel is desirable.

The invention relates, lirst, to the improved process for manufacturing gas, having for its object the correction of the above-mentioned defects 5 and tothis endit consists in introducing the steam into the decomposing-chamber alternately above and belowr the body ofincandescent carbonaceous decomposing material, and at the same time introducing the oleaginous matter centrally into Vsuch body of decomposing material, whereby the heat thereof is better maintained and decomposition better effected.

The invention relates, secondly, to the novel apparatus for carrying out the process, and consists in the devices and combinations of parts below described, and as particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l represents a vertical central section of the generator with my iniprovements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the saine, taken at the level ofthe grate. Fig. 3 is adetached side view of the lock of the hoppertop seal. Fig. 4 is a front view of the same.

A represents the hopper of the generator; B, the fixing-chamber ofthe same. C is the incandescent-fuel chamber; D,the grate 5` E, the top chamber of the ash-pit, and F the bottom chamber of the same. Said chambers of the ash-pit are separated by the cone-bottom Gr and the central bottom valve or seal, H, pivoted to said bottom G.

The chambers E and F h-ave each a screwseal door, I,on the side of the chamber, for the delivery of ashes and to give access to their inside, and to close them properly tight each has a cross-bar guided in lugs and provided with a tigh tening-screW, K.

. The grate D is arranged centrallyat the bottom ofthe fuel-chamber C, andthe fixing-chamber Bis over thefuel-chamber. Bot-h chambers arecased with iron outsideand haveaiire-brick lining. This liningofthefuel-chamber is made nearly twice as thick as thatofthe ixingchamber, thereby allowing the gas to expand from the fuel into the fixing-chamber, the room in the latter being larger, by which means the generator is relieved of pressure. To cause asuitable superheating and xingof thegas, the said fixing-chamber is furnished with several rows of tiles, L, arranged apart and4 across the chamber to intercept the passage of the gas.k Said tiles, being highly heated or in an incandescent state,causebytheirinterceptionasuita= blefixing of the gas. generator is also lined with fire-brick, as shown. The hopper A is secured thereupon, and it is furnished with a lid, N, having a cross-bar and clamping-screw, O,and for both the hopperand said lid said plate has for each a proper opening through it. l

The hopper is divided into the top` com partment, A', and the bottom compartment, A", and a valve or seal, O', is employed between them to close their communication duringithe time of feeding the top compartment, A'.

To the side of the hopper, below its valve or seal O', is connected the gas-main P, bywhich the gas is taken from the generator to the wash-box, and thence passed through the scrub-V bers and purifier into the holder, in the usual way. i

'lhe gas-main P is preferably connected on the side of the hopper; .but it may be on the top plate, and by it the gas is conductedfrom the retort to the wash-box.

The fuel-chamber is provided on the side with an opening having a valve .or seal, Q, over it, to giveaccess to the chamber close pairing the grate or lining. Said valve Q is furnished with the usual cross-bar and clamp- .The topplate, M, ofthe IOG .overthe grate for taking out cinders and re- .its seat and hold it locked.

ing-screw, Q', guided on lugs provided on the seat of the valve.

The top of the hopper has the valve R, provided with a proper seat to close the said top air-tight.

The mechanism to operate both hoppervalves R and O and the valve H is provided with locking devices, so as to open and close them with a quick motion.

Thehopper-valves have rods to operate them from below at the base ot' the generator.

The mechanism for operating the valve It consists ot' a twoarmed lever, a, which is pivoted between the lugs b, east to the valve-seat S. The short end of the lever a is loosely attached to the top ot' the valve l), and the long end of said lever has a rod suspended down to the base portion of the generator. By means of this lever a the valve is readily raised or lowered from and to its seat from below at the base of the generator.

The mechanism consists, further, ot' a pair of arms, c, on the valve and two opposite lockinglevers, d d, pivoted to the opposite sides ofthe hopper, and furnished each with a i'rictionroller, e, on its short vertical arm. The frictionrollers c overlap the arms c, of which each is made with an inclined plane for the roller to pass readily upon it and cause a powerful pressui e for properly tightening the valve upon Each of said levers d has along horizontal arm, on which a rod,f, is suspended to operate the lever from below at the base of the generator, all clearly Shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

The valves H and 0 are both loosely hinged to their seats to open downward. The mechanism for opening and closing them is constructed with toggle-joint devices,consisting of the crank g and link h, connected with a central pivot on the valve, and arranged so that the crank g, when located to its dead-center, will hold the valve in a closed position on its seat. The crank g in each is secured upon a horizontal arbor,j, which passes through the casing, and is furnished with a stufling-box in the casing to keep a tight joint around said arbor.

The link hy of the gearotl the valve H is pivoted indirectly with the valve, having an intermediate arm, fi, pivoted on the l'nlcrum ot the valve, to transmit the lnotion of the crank g, and to provide against lost motion from wear or other cause the bearing ot' the arbor j close to the crank is made with an adjustaarms of said lever, to the second arm of which is suspended a rod,'p, by which the valve is operated.

The grate D is constructed in two equal portions, each having a rock-shaft, r, to which it is connected, and which hasits bearings inthe metal case of thelower part or base ot' the. generator. Each ofsaid rock-shaftspasses through the base ofthe generator, and ist'urnished with a stuffing-box at the outside to provide for a properly tightjoint on the rock-shaft; andthe semi portions ot' the grate are each made toward each other with tongues q projcctinginto the spaces ot' the other between its tongues, as shown, so that each of the semi portions may be turned to dump independently, and either may be operated for raking the coal independently,or they may be operated together. Each ofthe shafts r has on its outer end, secured firmly, asocket-arm, s, into which the shakingbar tis applied; and to hold the grate stationary the said arm s has a flat projection, which passes in a slotted central standard, u, employed between said shafts, to which standard each ot' the arms sis locked by a bolt inserted through the arm and standard. By means of having the grate constructed in semi portions, for each a fulcrum or rock-shaft, the raking ot` the coal is done with facility. To have the said shafts 1' properly connected in a powerful durable manner, each grate portion has hubs to fit over the shaft, with a square opening, and the shaft hasits shan k passing through said hubs also made square.

lT represents the steam-pipe, which is supplied with superheated steam from a suitable superheater. It delivers the steam into the vertical steam-pipe U, which has two main branches, V and lV, and a third branch, X; and said pipe U is furnished with a stop-valve, Y, for each of the branches V and W, and a Stop-valve, Z, is applied on the branch X, which connects with the bottom chamber of the ash-pit.

By means ofthe steam-branch X and valve Z steam may he admitted into the bottom chamber l'or the purpose of expelling the air from it. Whenthe grate is raked the ashes drop into the chamber E upon the valve H, which is closed during the raking of the grate. After the grates are raked the ashes are dropped into the chamber F by opening the valve H. The screw-seal l ot' the chamber F is always kept` closed during this time; but after the ashes are dropped into the chamber F and the valve H is closed, the said screwseal I is opened to remove the ashes from the retort entirely, and now, after the ashes are removed, the air having been admitted during the removal of the ashes is expelled by opening the valve Z and llling the chamber F with steam before closing said chamber with the seal I. Whenever the steam is passed into the said bottom chamber the seal of the same to the exterior is opened to allow the air to escape. The branch V connects with the up- IIC 24eme per ash-pit chamber and delivers the steam under the grate into the fuel-chamber. The branch W delivers the steam into the upper part of the fuel-chamber, and by means of the valvesY either of the branchesV or W may be stopped and the other may be opened, or either maybe used alternately.

l. The oil or naphtha is furnished from a suitable tank by means of the oil-pipe n, which pipe passes through a heating-pipe or vaporizer, w; and from the heating-pipe w it connects with a glass tube, x, which connects with the central portion of the fuel-chamber by means of a pipe, y, so that the oil or vapor thereof passes through the pipe u and vaporizer w, and becomes visibleiu passing through the glass tube .'12, from which it passes into the fuel-chamber.

The vaporizer fw is constructed ofa large tube, through which the oil-pipe v passes with tightjoints around it, and the space between both tubes is connected with the steam-pipe from the boiler.

The pipe y is furnished with a stop-valve, z, for regulating` the flow of the oil or vapor to carburet the hydrogen for giving it the proper illuminatingproperties. A drip and proof faucet, z', is also employed on said pipe y totest the How ofthe oil. l

Frequently in generators of th-is classa pressure in the generating-retort stops the flow of the oil or its vapor, and it ison that account that measures for testing the flow of the vapor or oil are of importance to carry on a successful generation of the gas. By introducing the steam into the incandescent fuel at the same portion of the fuel for acontiuuous period the fuel loses its vitality or heat so rapidly that the generation becomes almost entirely inactive; the portion of the fuel at which the generated gas passes off gains activity or briskness. By means of introducing the steam alternately at either portion ofthe fuel the generation of the gas is continued for a great deal longer time in nearly full activity.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy l. The process of manufacturing gas which consists in introducing oleaginous matter centrally within a body o'f incandescent carbonaceous material, and introducing steam into the decomposing-chamber alternately above and below such body of carbonaceous material, whereby the heat thereof lis better maintained `and decomposition is better effected, as speciviie'd.

2. In a gas-generator,the fuel-chamber C, in

y combination with steam-pipes V and W, having valves Y connected with the decomposingchamber, substantially as described, and the oil-supply pipe y, entering the chamber U centrally, for the purpose specified.

3. In water-gas generators, the combination of the fuel-chamber C, the hiring-chamber B, Y

the grate D, the tiles L, with the central oil nozzles or pipes, and. the alternately-operating` steam pipes, branches, and valves V, W, and Y, and the gas-main P, substantiallyas and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The combination of the fuel-chamber C, and the hiring-chamber B and its tiles L, the grate D, the chambers E and F, with the steampipes V and W and valves Y, the seal or valve H, and the gas-main P, substantially as and for thel purpose herein described and shown. 5. The combination of the fuel-chamber C, the grate D, the seals N and Q, and the chamber B and its tiles L, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the bottom chamber, F, with the steam-branch X and the valve H, the chamber E, the fuel-chamber C, and fixingchamber B, substantially as and for the purpose herein mentioned.

7. The combination ofthe chambers B,G, E, and F with the valves H and O', and the steampipes V and W and valves Y, the gas-main P, and hopper A, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

8. The combination of thefuel-chambcr U, the fixing-chamber B, and the hopper A, and the incandescent tiles L, the grate D, andthe top and bottom chamber of the ash-pit, and the valves H and O, with the oil-pipe y, and the steam-pipe U. and branches V and W, and their stop-valves Y, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

9. The combination of the hopper A, having valves R and O', the chambers B, (J, E, and F,

'and the grate D, the valve H, and sealsN, Q,

and I, the gas-main P, the steam-pipes V and W, and valves Y, substantially as andfor the` 11. The combination, in a water-gas generv ator, of the fuel-chamber C, the grate D, with its independent rock-shafts r r, their opposite Y I 1 5 tongues, and arranged to rake and dump, as described, with the chambers E and F, and the seals or lids I and Q, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

12. Thehopper-top valve It, with its arms c c,

- in combination with thelocking-levers d d and the lever c, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this 24thday of February, 1881.

BURHAUS VAN l 4STEENBERGrH. In presence of R. BOEKLEN, F. A. SPEARE.

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